Dictionary

This Glossary is provided to help guests understand more about the rental of inns, resorts and vacation rentals. It is not comprehensive but serves as a primer for terms guests may encounter in renting specialty lodging. Not all terms apply to all properties or managers.

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24-Hour Assistance Services

These services offer on-the-spot and immediate assistance for unexpected problems that can arise during your trip. The hotline operates 24/7 for help anytime, any place while traveling.Origin: CSA Travel Protection

After Hours

Managers and Owners provide service during long hours, but most are not open 24 hours a day. Calls, assistance and other services provided outside of normal business hours are referred to as after hours.Origin: Vacation Rental Association

After Hours Fees

Charges to Guests or Owners for services provided after hours. Essential services such as loss of water, power or heat are usually provided free of charge. After hours calls for non-essential services usually bear a fee.Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Amenities

The features and benefits associated with a property such as furniture, equipment, furnishings, resort priviledges and so forth. Amenities widely between types of accomodations such as hotels, motels, cabins, bed and breakfasts; and also between one unit and another.Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Arrival Date

The date at which a guest arrives or is allowed to arrive and use a property. In lodging this also usually includes a time before which the guest is not allowed access.Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Attractions

General all-inclusive term travel industry marketers use to refer to products that have visitor appeal, like museums, historic sites, performing arts institutions, preservation districts, theme parks, entertainment and national sites.Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Availability Calendar

An online calendar which can be updated to allow renters see the dates open for a certain property (Room, Suite or Home).See also: Common Calendar Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Back to Back

When one booking immediately follows another booking without a day between them, that is referred to as a back to back. In that case, cleaning must be done between when one guest checks out and the next checks in.Origin: Redstone Systems

Beach Front Accommodations

Buildings or rooms and living units in a building which is along side a body of water and generally with a reasonably level geographically between the building and the water. Generally means there are no other buildings between the building and the water. Is more specific than Ocean Front Accommodations which may not be on a beach.See also: Ocean Front Accommodations Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Beach View

When guests can see a beach (Salt or Fresh Water) from some area of the property, not necessarily from all ares of the property. May include Full, Partial or Peekaboo Views.See also: View, City View, Mountain View, Resort View, Water View Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Bed & Breakfast

A small inn or lodge that provides a room and a breakfast. Often a B&B is in a residential home setting and/or a historic building converted to a quaint lodging facility. B&B's are not Vacation Rentals.Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Bed Tax

City or county tax added to the price of a lodging facility.Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Best Practices

Those policies and procedures that best suit an industry and lead to satisfied customers, good vendor relations and success for business owners. In lodging, best practices are many and varied. In short they can be summarized as being good neighbors with good customer service.Origin: Redstone Systems

Blocked (Booking)

When an Owner reserves use of their own home the booking is referred to as a Block or Blocked. This word is used in the Computer Booking system.See also: Abandoned, Aborted, Cancelled, Confirmed, Order, Hold, Incomplete, In Error, Out of Service, Quoted, Unblocked Origin: Istay

Booking Disclosure

After confirming a guest's dates, rates and charges it is necessary to reference the basic terms which govern the order and to secure the guest's approval prior to accepting payment. That is done by reading a disclosure statement and marking it complete in the booking system.See also: Booking, Terms and Conditions Origin: Istay

Business Travel

Travel for commercial, governmental or educational purposes with leisure only as a secondary motivation.Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Cancellation Policy

The terms and basis on which a lodging property owner or manager will or will not accept cancellations. Also dependent on the terms on which the guest booked the property. Usually stated as a number o days prior to first date of occupancy on which a guest may request a cancellation. Fees may apply to cancellations or cancellations may be denied altogether.See also: "Guarantee Reservation" and "Advance Loding Reservation" Origin: Vacation Rental Association